Chavez Lauds Sheehan; Calls for Puerto Rico Independence

Declaring that Puerto Rico is a 'Caribbean country in Latin America,' and that it had been the intention of Simon Bolivar, 'The Liberator,' for it to be part of 'a Greater Colombia,' Hugo Chavez called Monday for the independence of the America protectorate. According to this article from Venezuela's La Hora, he also praised anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan a example of why women are 'the foremost activists of world peace.'

Paula van de Werken

January 30, 2006

Home Page (Spanish)    

During the broadcast of his television program Hello, Mr. President [Alo, Presidente], filmed at Guzman Blanco House and in the company of the leaders of the World Social Forum being held in Caracas, Hugo Chavez Frias, President of the Republic, again accused the United States government of turning America into a terrorist state, while simultaneously demanding the independence of Puerto Rico and the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

"I invite everyone, everyone in Venezuela, to rise up and demand the independence of Puerto Rico and to help the Puerto Rican people in their fight for independence," pronounced the nation’s leader.

Chavez enumerated a series of aggressions in which the United States government has taken part before demanding "Enough to Imperialist aggression waged by Imperial America!  The entire world under the dominion of Empire must proclaim that in this century, we must bury Empire and never again allow Empires of any type to exist in this world."

Highlighting the importance of women as the foremost activists for world peace, as an example he singled out the work of American Cindy Sheehan against the war in Iraq.

"Cindy, we are with you in your fight and in your battle. And it is the battle of the American People, who want to be out of it (the war), who are also outraged, persecuted, harassed, and ignored," the Venezuelan leader stated.

Speaking of the independence of Puerto Rico, Hugo Chavez reminded [his audience] that this had once been part of Simon Bolivar’s Plan for a Greater Colombia, which extended to the Caribbean islands. He also pointed out that the liberation of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic were objectives that "The Liberator" was unable to see carried out.

"We say, "Viva! (Long Live!) an Independent Puerto Rico,"  "Viva! a Free Puerto Rico."

And as for being a colony in this world, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean country in Latin America. We are with you. This fight is as much ours as it is theirs because it has to do with all of our destinies. There will be a world for all, or there won’t be a world for anyone." Chavez proclaimed.

He proposed that Venezuelans collect signatures "against the war in Iraq - against war in any part of the world - and for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, for Peace." Then, he suggested bringing thousands of signatures demanding the withdrawal of troops (currently in Iraq) to the American Embassy in Caracas on Mother’s Day (March 8).

Spanish Version Below

Chávez califica de terrorista a EEUU y exige la independencia de Puerto Rico

El Presidente de la República, Hugo Chávez Frías, durante la transmisión de su programa Aló, Presidente, desde la Casa de Guzmán Blanco y en compañía de los dirigentes del Foro Mundial que asistieron a Caracas, reiteró sus acusaciones contra el gobierno de Estados Unidos calificándolo de país terrorista y exigió además la independencia de Puerto Rico y la salida de los soldados norteamericanos de Irak.

"Yo invito a todos, a Venezuela toda, para que se levante y diga exigimos la independencia de Puerto Rico y apoyamos al pueblo puertorriqueño en su lucha por la independencia", sentenció el mandatario nacional.

Chávez enumeró una serie de agresiones en las que ha participado el gobierno de Estados Unidos, para luego exigir, "la agresión del imperio ya basta, abajo el imperio norteamericano, hay que decir en el mundo entero, abajo el imperio, este siglo debemos enterrar al imperio y que no haya más nunca imperios de ningún tipo en el mundo".

Destacó el valor de las mujeres como principales activistas de la paz en el mundo, colocando como ejemplo la labor de la estadounidense Cindy Sheehan, en contra de la guerra en Irak.

"Cindy estamos contigo, en tu lucha y en tu batalla y es la batalla del pueblo de Estados Unidos, que quiere liberarse, que a ellos también les atropella, los persigue, los veja, los excluye", indicó el mandatario venezolano.

Sobre la independencia de Puerto Rico, Hugo Chávez, indicó que esta formaba parte del Plan de Simón Bolívar, para parte de la Gran Colombia a las islas del Caribe, destacando que la liberación de Cuba, Puerto Rico y República Dominicana, también fueron objetivos que no pudieron verse cumplidos por El Libertador.

"Decimos viva Puerto Rico independiente, viva Puerto Rico libre, hasta cuando va a haber colonia en este mundo, Puerto Rico es un país del Caribe, de América Latina, estamos con ustedes, y esta lucha es tanto de ellas como de nosotros porque se trata del destino de todos nosotros, o hay mundo para todos, o no habrá mundo para nadie", sentenció Chávez.

Propuso la recolección de firmas en Venezuela, "contra la guerra en Irak, contra la guerra en cualquier parte del mundo, por el retorno de los soldados norteamericanos en Irak, por la paz. Recoger firmas y el día de la mujer, el 8 de marzo, ir a la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Caracas, a llevar miles de firmas, para pedir el retiro de las tropas".